Kukla's Korner Hockey

Mike Comrie is almost 29, a small forward whose skills, like his contract offers and salary expectations, are in obvious decline.

It should surprise no one that he is unsigned even as National Hockey League training camps approach. Players like him will forevermore enter September without contracts. Not valuable or young enough to secure a real offer and a cherished roster spot, yet not completely used up, his ilk occupies the humbling middle ground created by the restrictive nature of salary capanomics.

He might be one training camp injury away from a massive one-year deal. He might have to swallow his pride altogether and go somewhere on a tryout basis. And he might wait months for the phone to ring.